Over 1,100 students to showcase projects at Young Scientist exhibition

More than 1,100 students will showcase their scientific research projects at the 2018 staging of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin's RDS from January 10th to 13th.

There was a total entry this year of 2,031 projects from 4,251 students across the island of Ireland, with every county represented – 550 projects made it to exhibition stage.

Some 60 per cent of entrants this year were female, “indicating the power of this platform to engage female participation in the critical STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects”, according to Shay Walsh, managing director of sponsors BT Ireland.

Projects will be reviewed by a team of 84 judges, while students will compete for the 2018 BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year title. The exhibition, the largest event of its kind in Europe, is in its 54th year – and is expected to be attended by more than 50,000 people on days it is open to the public.

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Organisers have announced details of the 2018 exhibition and a series of events and science shows to be staged at the RDS coinciding with the event. These include an appearance by one of the world's most noted computer hackers, Kevin Mitnick, who was once on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

‘Just for the challenge’

Mitnick, who hacked into computer systems of 40 major corporations “just for the challenge”, and later served five years in prison for various computer and communications-related crimes, is now a trusted security consultant.

He advises top Fortune 500 companies in the US and world governments. He mentors on the theory and practice of “social engineering”, and helps consumers – including students – to learn how to protect their information, and themselves, from harm arising from their digital activity.

"Irish astronaut in training" Norah Patten, and the Ministry of Science from the UK, which promotes science through theatre, are also featuring. Shows returning by popular demand include mentalist David Meade, The Real Science of the Circus, 3D Space Journey and the popular World of Robots.

Mitnick will be performing “a live hack” at the BT Mindshare arena in the RDS on Thursday, January 11th, at 5.30pm. “He will bring insight and experience alive to a room full of senior business professionals where security is top of their agenda,” according to the organisers.

Sub-orbital training

Patten will host a live Q&A on January 11th at 3.15pm in the RDS Concert Hall to outline her vigorous sub-orbital training in Florida in her attempt to become the first Irish person to travel to space.

Tickets are available online, costing €6 for students, €12 for adults and €25 for a family pass which covers two adults and two children.

A free app is available for Android and Apple devices. It includes an exhibition map, a search tool for student projects and exhibitors, a schedule of events and links to the BTYSTE social networks for live updates throughout the event.

The exhibition will be open for visitors from 9.30am to 5.30pm on January 11th; 9.30am to 5.00pm on January 12th and 9.30am to 5.30pm on January 13th.

Further information is available at btyoungscientist.com